SBR- Content.pmd - INBO

The governments in the LMB have recently signed an agreement committing themselves to sharingdata on a wide range of topics. As data collection and analysis in the countries becomes moredetailed, data specific to the territory within the basin should become more readily available and thisin turn will improve the data presented in subsequent State of the Basin Reports. In this editionnational level data have sometimes been used where more appropriate basin-specific data were notavailable. There are also a number of important aspects of the basin for which there are no data asyet or data are inadequate. This report may provide incentive to improve data collection and analysisin future.The focus of this report is on the sustainable use of water and related resources because that is themandate of MRC. Although the report covers current and possible impacts on the environment, thefocus is on development. The standard of living for most of the people living in the basin is unacceptablylow and as the population expands (as much as 50 percent by 2025), the numbers living below thepoverty line will be even greater unless opportunities for livelihoods increase.This report is divided into two main sections. The first provides chapters on physical landforms ofthe basin, water flows and quality, and biota. It also includes chapters on trends in economic as wellas social development. The second main section of the report concerns the uses of water and relatedresources. Chapters cover fisheries and other aquatic products, forestry, agriculture, hydropower,domestic water and sanitation, floods and trade and transport. The report concludes with a chapteron the efforts of a number of agencies, including MRC, to promote cooperation in the Mekong Basin.In conclusion, MRC hopes that readers will contribute to the success of future editions of the State ofthe Basin Report by suggesting topics to add, errors to correct and additional sources of relevantdata. MRC’s first State of the Basin Report is very much a work in progress and it is hoped thatfuture editions will reflect the valuable advice provided by its readers.xii